****

Two hours later, the crew returned to the station. As the squad was backing into the apparatus bay, they saw a lady with red hair and blue eyes waiting for them.

"Royal Alan." Harriet DeSoto smiled as Roy got out of the squad.

"Mom!" Roy gasped, running to hug her. "Mom, I'm sorry I didn't make it to the airport-"

"Honey, if you had a run, you had a run." The woman in her fifties smiled.

Cap cleared his throat.

"Oh, Sorry, Cap. Guys, this is my mother, Harriet DeSoto. Mom, This is Captain Stanley, Mike Stoker, our Engineer, Firefighter Marco Lopez., Firefighter Chester Kelly and last but not least, my partner on the squad, John Gage."

"Mrs. DeSoto, it is an honor to have you here." Cap smiled. "Your Son is the best Paramedic I have."

"I'm sure he is." Harriet smiled. "I've always been proud of my Royal."

"Royal?" Chet laughed. "Your name is Royal?!"

Roy blushed as Cap glared at Chet.

"Yes, my full name is Royal, if you must know, Chester Brenden." Roy told him. "I was named after Mom's favorite soda, Royal Crown."

Chet laughed even harder at that as Hank shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

"Uh, Guys, what do you say we go wash up?" Cap suggested.

"Right, Cap." Mike quietly replied, leading Johnny and the rest out of the bay.

"Where do you think you're going, tall, quiet and handsome?" Harriet asked, grabbing Johnny by his arm.

"Uh, to wash up." Johnny stammered, uncomfortably.

"Oh no, young man. I want to get to know the man whom my Son calls his best friend!" Harriet insisted, pinching Johnny's cheek.

Roy saw his partner's discomfort with the situation in his eyes as they sat down at the kitchen table. Johnny leaned over to Roy, who was now seated next to him.

"Get me out of this!" Johnny whispered.

"Junior, you owe me!" Roy whispered back. "Remember Joanne's cousin?"

"Okay, I'll go along." Johnny decided.

"So, Mom, how'd you get here to the station?" Roy asked.

"I took a taxi when you didn't come after two hours." Harriet replied.

"Mom, you should've called Jo." Roy told her. "You know she'd have come and got you."

"Nah, why trouble the dear girl?" Harriet smiled. "Besides, the station was closer."

All the while, Harriet kept looking at Johnny. Johnny squirmed in his chair under her gaze.

"Mom, I won't be able to take you on that tour of LA. I'm working overtime at 46's. I forgot about that." Roy smiled, sheepishly. "Johnny will be glad to take ya in my place, won't you, Johnny?"

Johnny gulped, then spoke.

"Roy, can I ah, see you in the dorm a minute?" John requested. "Excuse us, Mrs. DeSoto."

Johnny grabbed Roy by the arm and whisked him into the dorm.

"Roy, what the hell are you doin?!" Johnny demanded. "I do NOT wanna play tour guide to your mother! I'll work the shift at 46's for you!"

"Johnny, you owe me!" Roy hissed. "How many times have you roped me into doing things I didn't wanna do?! You and my mom will have a great time! She likes you, Partner, so enjoy it!"

"Are you trying to dump her on me?" Johnny asked.

"No, I gotta work overtime and Joanne has meetings all day tomorrow. "Please, Johnny. I don't want my Mom walking through LA alone. Be a nice guy and take her out for a day on the town. I'll even pay for it."

Johnny thought it over.

"Mom really likes you." Roy encouraged.

"Okay," Johnny gave in. "But you owe me a pizza and beer on our next days off, agreed?"

"Agreed." Roy smiled.

With that, both men rejoined Harriet in the kitchen.

"Everything okay, Boys?" She asked.

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll be glad to take you on a tour of Los Angeles." Johnny smiled, resuming his seat at the table. "Would you like to see our engine and squad?"

"I'd love to." Harriet smiled.

"Right this way, Mrs. DeSoto." Johnny smiled, leading her into the apparatus bay.

"I've got some logs to work on!" Roy called after them, then went into the office.

Upon entering, Roy saw Cap tearing into Chet over his earlier behavior. Roy turned to leave.

"What can I do for you, DeSoto?" Hank asked.

"Never mind, Cap. I see I'm interrupting." Roy said as Chet plead with his eyes for Roy not to leave.

Roy left the office, shutting the door behind him.

"What've I got to do to get through to you, Kelly?" Hank asked. "You seem to think life is one big joke! Tell me, Kelly, if you were me, how would you deal with you? I mean, I've tried everything! Latrine duty, suspension. Tell me, what am I gonna do with you?"

"You could have me transferred." Chet offered.

"That's too easy." Cap smirked. "This time, you're going before the board."

"The board?" Chet gulped.

"Yes, Chet, the department's disciplinary board." Hank said. "I'm calling Chief Houts right now. You go in the rec room and wait for me."

"Yes, Sir." A dejected Chet replied. then left the office.